FOLLOW PHOTOS

Vasu Paranjape: A coach who laughed his way to glory

There are people who talk about doing great things and do nothing. And there are people like Vasu Paranjape who do great things without saying anything.

| TNN | Updated: Aug 29, 2012, 06:38 IST

They say actions speak louder than words. But words can do a lot. Writers can move the world to tears by their words and activists can start revolutions through their talk.
Decades ago, there was a cricketer who won matches through words. While people mull over using incentives and counsellors to motivate players, this man knew only one thing: to make them laugh. At times when captains would frown, he would laugh. And with him would smile the entire team and give their best. Dadar Union captain and a renowned coach, Vasu Paranjape was a player's dream captain.

Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar, two cricketers who played 241 Tests together vouch for the fact that Paranjape's humour got the best out of players. To Vasu, cricket is a game which cannot be complicated. It is the players and coaches who make it complicated. His captaincy worked on the principle that the game is meant to be enjoyed.

Winning at any cost is not his philosophy. Winning was certainly important, but not by twisting the rules. He bravely took many calculated risks. While captaining Dadar Union, he would declare at 2 down 70. While his team would be wondering at his decision, he would have pocketed an outright win by tea time in the Kanga League.

Sunil Gavaskar says, "I think Vasu had the best sense of repartee that I have ever come across. He was a skipper who led from the front, always looking for ways to win a game. A terrific fielder and a hard-hitting batsman, his major strengths were giving confidence to youngsters that they could beat anybody. He had endless stories and anecdotes about various players and was entertaining with a capital E. A wonderful company and a must have for after dinner speeches."

An ardent supporter of Australian cricket especially of Don Bradman, Vasu regales stories with his wit. When he observed two cricketers sitting and discussing Bardman's exploits, he rebuked them, "The least you can do is stand while discussing Bradman."

Not once did any of his player find Vasu lose temper but as Milind Rege remembers, he once showed anger in a fashion that the entire team burst into laughter.

"On a very hot afternoon, he made me bowl many overs at a stretch and I casually complained to him about the heat. He called our Bhaiya Lakhandar and asked him to bring out an umbrella and said "Son tie it around your waist, I want you to bowl all day long, you won't feel the heat. We were in splits and he had the loudest laugh. We all played for Vasu. We just loved our captain. He was the wittiest person in adverse situations and took away all pressure off us in the Dadar Union team."

He adds, "A fantastic reader of the game, he endeared us by his ability to help us all lift our game which is why Dadar Union was a force to reckon with in the then Bombay's club cricket. Very helpful to all of us youngsters, he made us want to perform for him. Apart from his captaincy skills, Vasu was a great man manager."

He proved that what banter can achieve nothing else can. He handled teenager Dilip Vengsarkar by getting him to believe that he has in him to play for India, "A great motivator I would say. Initially I didn't realise the importance of humour but when you are under pressure to perform, a message through humour helps release pressure. It helps you look at the game in a different way."

Very thorough in technicalities of the game, he simplified the measure while imparting technical input. Once when he saw a batsman pushing and prodding in the net, he said, "Don't bat like that player from one of the West Zone Ranji Teams. When he bats, the non-striker becomes overage. The bat in your hand is there for you to score runs and the ball to take wickets." Message conveyed.

From Sunil Gavaskar to Sanjay Manjrekar, Paranjape coached and mentored many cricketers. Not having applied for any award, he wasn't chosen for the State honour. But he went on with life with a joke up his sleeve.

There are people who talk about doing great things and do nothing. And there are people like Vasu Paranjape who do great things without saying anything. It's time the state of Maharashtra and the Mumbai Cricket Association recognise his services to the game. He has given back the game everything what it gave him.

more from times of india Sports

All Comments ()+^ Back to Top

Characters Remaining: 3000

Continue without login

or

Login from existing account

FacebookGoogleEmail

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.